Backus settles with nurses group

Norwich - The William W. Backus Hospital has settled one unfair labor practice charge with the Backus Federation of Nurses, which represents 425 nurses seeking to unionize at the hospital.

The union, an affiliate of AFT Connecticut, had filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that Backus management had intimidated nurses during their union-organizing campaign.

The union has filed a second charge alleging the hospital has failed to provide necessary employee information.

The NLRB is requiring Backus to post notification throughout the hospital that the hospital will not interfere with the nurses' union rights, said Eric Bailey, spokesman for AFT Connecticut.

Backus spokesman Shawn Mawhiney said the hospital did not admit any wrongdoing and agreed to settle to avoid the "distraction and disruption of litigation."

The first negotiation session will be Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Norwich.

- Claire Bessette